Perhaps it has to do with how new it is?
I have a question either to Mr. Alex or to anyone who has watched the dvd.
My question is not the price anymore, i am more interested in the head modeling itself. Does the model follows the correct topology of a human head? Meaning the facial edge loops that are needed for animation. Mr Alex has the organic dvds which points out the importance of having a good model that has good topology. So i am wondering if that is also true on the Zbrush model that he had built and textured in this dvd?
I asked because most of the zscripts i watched here at zcentral does not follow anything in that order. They have no topology, just strictly sculpting a head from a zsphere or cube. I am more interested in Zbrush where i could model my characters ready for animation. Even if it will never end up being animated, i do want good topology in my models because if i send my demo reel somewhere i dont want my wire frames to look like they are unusable and not built at all with good topology.
Thats all i am really interested in…
Thanks ahead and hope to hear from you soon.
Nobody seems to want to answer my questions regarding to Alex’s new DVD??
Anyone???
It would seem that way. 
Hmm well im no expert in animation or Z-Brush… but I have the dvd and watched it, and it does seem to be the way you want, since for every part he uses a zsphere eyes / mouth etc and when he imports it at low res he says it can be animated.
I appreciate your input. I have a question. Could you put a screen shot with a wire frame just showing me the topology please… But dont show me the millions of polygons because that does not help me at all lol…Just the base mesh with the topology ready to be devided for hi-res modeling. The last step he did before he started really detailing. I would really appreciate it.
Thanks ahead…
Sure he uses 2 layers in Maya a high res one for adding Eyes and Teeth, and a Low res for riging and rendering:
http://mech7.net/tmp/gnomon/1.jpg
http://mech7.net/tmp/gnomon/2.jpg
So the new update to the zsphere’s are going to automatically sculpt detailed human anatomy and paint color, bump and spec maps? I don’t think that’s Pixologic’s goal for the new update.
I would think a simple addendum would work fine for Zack’s DVD, but only if Pixologic makes a shrink-wrap type function for the new zsphere’s. If not, don’t expect the topology-zsphere’s to replace Zack’s method completely.
As far as Alex’s DVD’s, none of the released information of the new update is even remotely indicative that it will replace detailed sculpting and painting. Although I guess a section could be added showing how you will be able to make a better animatable mesh with the new Zsphere’s. But it won’t replace the other 90% of what’s on the discs.
Hi
Thank you for the images. After seeing the images i really don’t like the outcome of the model. The low res has some “nose problems” lol…i really dont like that spherical tip of the nose, and the hi-res definately does not look finished to me either. Looks blobby and not smooth at all. I wanted to see a something in the quality of “grey hulk” which you can find here on this site or zack patrocs DVD.This $90 dollar DVD to me It looks like a beginners work to me. I get to see much, much better work here from some of the guys than Alex’s $90 dollar dvd. Sorry Alex, nothing against you, but i think that’s one of your lowest quality models you have created. Never the less of course i will be buying DVDs from your site, but i’ll pass on this one.
I got the DVD Thursday of last week and have learned quite a lot from it. Since you already have Zack’s DVD you should know topology isn’t an issue. But if you don’t think you can learn from it, then I guess thats that. I wouldn’t buy something I didn’t feel comfortable buying either.
But I would like to say that the model that was labeled as hi-res above is not the hi-res. The true hi-res model on the DVD goes over 2 million polygons, and shows some rather interesting ways on manipulating them.
As far as comparing Alexs’ work to the grey hulk model, both of which I think are great by the way, I think you really misinterpreted something. Alex goes into some incredible detail with his DVD. A lot more than is in the grey hulk model.
thanks for the info i appreciate it. Yeah i have zack’s dvd and he is a great zbrush user, i learned a lot from him, i also have meats meiers production pipeline dvd. Boy he goes into detail. He teaches you everything too…so i dont think i would miss much from Alex’s dvd.
Also downloaded the free zbrush video tutorial from Glen Southern. He models a head completely in Zbrush with topology. If you want to see it please go to the
www.kurvstudios.com. Click on the free tutorial section and click on zbrush 2 tutorials. Glen really works the topology and its great. He does the eyes, mouth, nose, nicely. He also has Silo 1.4 character modeling tutorials there…u should check it out if you ever want to learn that program its great for building base mesh for zbrush. Topology brush is great too if you want to use it on zbrush models to fix topology.
Anyways thanks for the info…
I have used Silo for awhile now, so I’m very familiar with the topology brush. The first model I did using it ended up in Nevercenter’s Gallery!
I haven’t bought Meats DVD’s yet. I’m definitely going to, but for me I am focusing on one thing right now, and that’s modeling, so once I get my modeling reel done I will start learning the other parts of Zbrush, like texturing, morph targets, etc… I’m positive Meats DVD are awesome!
“I am focusing on one thing right now, and that’s modeling”
Hi. That is exactly what im doing also. I am also getting ready to do a modeling reel. That is why i asked all these questions about the DVD. I want to do good models with good topology. I dont want a reel with bad topology and bad models under the surface which you might not be able to animate. If i want a job i better have those right because the animation department would definately fire me.
Thanks for the info…can u tell me which silo image is on the silo site?
thanks…
You mean the Mesh i presume since the rendered version with the displacements maps looks pretty cool where is that grey hulk btw ?
That is very nice. I assume the branches and leaves on him are made in zbrush. Did you use the topology brush on the whole character? or just the head…
Where did you finished the rest of the model, arms, body?
I created a sketching model in Silo, detailed the body in Zbrush, then redid the entire body with the topology brush, so it’s all one piece. The vines and leaves where done in Silo, but I am now reworking the leaves in Maya using Paint FX. It looks more natural now.
I now work directly from zsphere’s. They’re pretty versatile once you figure out what you need them to do.
redid the entire body with the topology brush, so it’s all one piece.
how long did it take u to do the whole body with topo brush in silo???
also can u share the settings of your topo brush? i seem to have some trouble with it. it does not come out clean for me. Can u post a screen shot please that would be really helpful…
thanks ahead…u are a wonderful artist. great modeler.
just bought the alvarez and the meats intro dvd’s:D i’m not very technically savvy so i need all the help i can get.
i’m totally new to zbrush with no 3d training whatsoever and really am not looking into getting into working as a 3d artist. i was just so blown away by the zbrush demo and it’s abilty to be a 2d and/or 2.5d tool that i just had to try it. i’m also a sucker for findind new tools and this looks like a great one. my background is in 2d animation,design,storyboards. i’m hoping zbrush will be a good visualization/design tool. if down the line, i can learn to make proper 3d models that animate then that’s cool too, for now just using zbrush for concept sketches is what i’m shooting for. any other recommendations for training tutorials, etc would be greatly appreciated.
somebody mentioned that alvarez is a good “talker” and that’s what sold me. i need an instructor that will get my mind wrapped around the tools, interface, etc. hope i made a good decision. will report backwhen i’ve had some time with it.